Looking for different points of view, and peering into corners of music scenes that can appear deceptively similar from a distance, has always been part of our job and mission here on IDIOTEQ.com. After a run of multi-band conversations around several festivals this year, we are pleased to turn towards CNHC Fest, a gathering that opens a direct window onto Chinese hardcore through the people who organise shows, run labels, film sets, travel between cities and keep bands moving.
The roundtable below brings together organiser Leo and ten bands from Tianjin, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Harbin and the Greater Bay Area.
The idea for CNHC Fest goes back to April 2012, when Return The Truth travelled to Wuhan to open for Hong Kong hardcore veterans King Ly Chee. A backstage conversation led to the first edition in Beijing that September.
Fourteen editions later, with only the pandemic forcing a pause in 2022, CNHC has grown into its first two-day event.
The 2026 festival takes place on 15 and 16 August at Mao Livehouse in Guangzhou, with the opening day at Taigucang and the second at Yongqingfang. Advance and door tickets are ¥200 and ¥240 for day one, then ¥140 and ¥160 for day two.
The bill gathers Chaos Kills The Pain, Return The Truth, Cancer Game, Xeno, Hard2Kill, AnemoiA, Overcome, Snails, May I Be I and What You Don’t See, alongside Whispers, Mystique, Wreckonize, Losing End, Modern Guns, Hand and Grimtooth.
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The answers make clear that Chinese hardcore cannot be reduced to one city or one shared set of conditions.
Tianjin currently has no active hardcore promoter, so May I Be I are preparing to organise their own DIY shows. Macau has one active hardcore band and one active metalcore band, while most people attending local events travel in from other cities. Hong Kong deals with punishing rent, regulation and a shrinking venue base. Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area have grown quickly around Triple Stone Booking, Gaimosh and GBA Ruction, while the Northeast has long relied on connections built through Snow Country Underground in Harbin, Kindred Hearts & Core Minds in Changchun and Stand as One in Shenyang. Beijing carries a longer history, but new bands and visiting international acts have become harder to bring into the city.
People record full sets, organise mosh practice, drive younger attendees home after shows and keep cold drinks in the car for the trip. Johnny from Desperate Infant Records maintains a physical record shop in Hong Kong despite the rent.
Leo created a mosh injury fund to help with medical costs when somebody gets hurt. At the formal level, most shows require permits, and organisers may need to submit identification details, setlists, lyrics and rehearsal videos before promotion and ticket sales can begin. Several bands point out that the most immediate problems are often financial: venue costs, limited audiences and the difficulty of building permanent spaces around music that remains deeply underground.
The festival also provides a useful picture of where its bands are heading. Snails are working through the countless decisions behind their debut album, Cancer Game have released “Boulders On The Hull Pt.1”, and What You Don’t See are preparing their first official release. Xeno, Hard2Kill, Return The Truth and Overcome all have new records in progress, while May I Be I are getting ready to record their first songs.
Modern Guns are mentioned again and again as a band people have waited years to see, alongside Whispers, May I Be I and AnemoiA.
Overcome will finally make their CNHC debut after more than a decade together. For the older participants, the weekend is an annual family reunion.
For the younger bands, it is a chance to meet the people whose records and shows led them here.
Below, Leo and the bands speak in full about the cities they come from, the people doing the unseen work, the assumptions they want to correct and the records still pushing them forward.
The Festival
Leo, please take us back to the beginning. How did CNHC Fest first come together, how many editions have you organised since then, and what has changed the most along the way?
Leo: The idea of CNHC Fest started back in April 2012. My friends in Return The Truth went to Wuhan to open for the Hong Kong hardcore legends King Ly Chee on their mainland China tour, at a time when the Beijing hardcore scene was poppin’. After that gig, everyone was hanging out backstage and someone brought up, “Maybe we should start a hardcore fest of our own?” Right then and there, we decided to put on the very first CNHC Fest in Beijing that September.
Fast forward to today, we’ve thrown 14 editions (having to pause only once in 2022 due to the pandemic). The biggest shift over the years has been seeing more and more international bands fly in to celebrate this festival with us. Shout out to my brother Stone for helping us bring out some of those overseas bands!
This year CNHC has grown into a two-day festival with 17 bands covering very different corners of hardcore. How did you put the bill together, and which additions feel especially important to you?
Leo: Usually, I start by getting a rough head count of the bands and deciding on the subgenres we want to cover. The core logic is always to balance veterans who are still active in the scene with exciting, up-and-coming new bands. But this year, there were just too many incredible bands, so the final lineup ended up bigger than expected, and we expanded the fest from one day to two.
For instance, AnemoiA and May I Be I are two highly anticipated new bands playing this year. On top of that, Overcome from Harbin is super important—they’ve been around for over a decade, but due to travel distance and conflicting schedules, this will actually be their very first time playing CNHC Fest, which is hugely exciting.
I’m also personally stoked for Modern Guns, a melodic hardcore band from Indonesia, and Grimtooth, a hardcore punk outfit from Bangkok. Right now, heavy hardcore seems to have the biggest audience in China, so introducing kids to a broader spectrum of hardcore styles through CNHC Fest will only make our scene richer and more diverse in the long run.
You have spent more than twenty years inside Chinese hardcore. What does the scene look like now compared with when you started, and what has become easier or harder?
Leo: Compared to years ago, the ways information spreads have become far more diverse. In the past, we relied on phone calls or basic IM tools (like OICQ and MSN) to book shows, or used BBS forums to promote our music and culture. Today, various social media platforms make communication faster and more efficient.
As for the scene, more hardcore bands have emerged in different regions. Although the overall numbers remain small, the scene is healthy and tightly knit, with strong mutual support among bands, and between bands and fans. living in Beijing, I’m fortunate to always have the homies from Real Deal Records and Return The Truth and Qin Yong (guitarist of Own Up!!!) by my side, along with many incredible friends who continuously support local bands and labels.
Most importantly, of course, is the support of my family. I’m deeply grateful to my wife Summer, who has backed my love for hardcore music and culture for over 20 years. During the prep for CNHC, she also helped a lot with the promotion and merch design. Having her hands-on support means the world to me.
Due to shifts in the broader environment, new hardcore bands in Beijing are exceedingly rare, and related shows are few and far between. Bringing international hardcore bands to this city has also become extremely challenging.
Looking on the bright side, however, we are constantly finding ways to organize shows here, at least ensuring that hardcore bands from other Chinese cities get the chance to play in Beijing. On another positive note, the Guangzhou scene has experienced explosive growth over the past two years. Our brothers at Triple Stone Booking have brought over a stacked lineup of overseas acts—including Speed, Sunami, Guilt Trip, and many others. This has put China’s hardcore scene on the radar for so many people internationally, which is just unbelievably cool.
For readers outside China, which venues, promoters, labels and other names form the backbone of the scene on the ground?
Leo: The venues are School Bar and Shut Up Bar in Beijing, Cave Art Venue in Shanghai, Mao Livehouse in Guangzhou, Hou Live in Shenzhen, Nuts Club in Chongqing, Jar Bar in Chengdu, 9-Club in Hangzhou, Goin Live in Changchun, and 7 Livehouse in Zhengzhou.
The labels are Real Deal Records, Triple Stone Booking, Gaimosh Records, GBA Ruction, PMA Hardcore, and NowHigh Records.
What does putting on a hardcore show in China actually involve? Where are you able to play, what needs official approval, and what kind of preparation happens before a show can be announced?
Leo: Most shows here require official permits before they can happen. We’re allowed to perform in venue spaces that hold active performance permits, but DIY setups common overseas—like open-air gigs, house shows in living rooms or backyards, or sets under a bridge—aren’t permitted (or they require advance approval from local authorities, as with major music festivals).
To ensure shows run smoothly, we usually prepare all the documentation well in advance: band members’ ID info, the setlist, song lyrics, and rehearsal videos, submitting everything for approval. Once we secure the official permit, we start promoting the show and selling tickets.
Even though the process is pretty complex, everyone has pretty much gotten used to it over the past few years, and the synergy between bands and promoters is smooth and efficient.
Who else across China and the wider Asian region is doing work that deserves more attention? Point us towards the festivals, spaces, labels and initiatives readers should follow.
Leo: China: TSB Fest, NowHigh Fest, Chongqing Punk Fest, Reverb Punk Fest.
Thailand & Singapore: Concrete Jungle Fest, Holding On Records, Blacklisted Production.
South Korea: Rampage Fest, True Color Collective.
Japan: Bloodaxe Fest, Future Wave, Brightside Booking.
The Bands
Let’s skip the standard bio. Where does the band stand right now, what are you working on, and what should people expect over the next few months?
May I Be I (Tianjin): My band is currently based in Tianjin, though one of our members lives in Beijing. We’re working on some new songs right now. None of our tracks are available online yet, but we’re starting to prepare for recording and releasing them.
AnemoiA (Great Bay Area): Right now, we’re gearing up for our set at CNHC—this is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time, and it’s definitely going to be a perfect day. We’re also working on tweaking our style just a bit as we prepare for our next release.
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What You Don’t See (Guangzhou): Our first official release Part 1: Drove Me Off Like Used To Be is coming out very soon (or might already be live by the time this interview goes up!). Beyond soaking in CNHC and reuniting with old friends, our next move is playing a series of shows in the emo scene.
Chaos Kills The Pain (Beijing): We’ll be dropping our new tracks one by one, and a new song will definitely be out before CNHC 2026 kicks off!
XENO (Guangzhou): We’ve definitely been playing way more shows this year compared to before, and everyone in the band has so much more fire and passion! This year, we plan to release two remaining singles from our early days. At the same time, we’re also working on a brand-new EP. Compared to our previous stuff, this release will lean into a much purer, raw sound—just the core power trio (guitar, bass, and drums)! Stay tuned!
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Hard2Kill (Guangzhou): We’re currently working on a new EP, which will feature some fresh ideas as well as songs we’ve been playing live but haven’t recorded yet.
Snails (Hong Kong): Things are getting pretty busy on our end. We’re currently deep into working on our debut album, aiming for a late-year or early-next-year release. We’ve been mapping out the whole concept and the core message we want to send to our supporters, which leads to a million little decisions: how we want to produce, record, and mix the songs, whether we want to bring in an outside producer, and figuring out everything from album art and merch to choosing tracks for music videos. As an independent hardcore band, it’s 100% DIY—it’s hectic as hell, but honestly, it’s so much fun :)
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On top of the album prep, we’ve got a few shows lined up, starting with CNHC Fest and a couple of local gigs here in Hong Kong. Right now, a huge chunk of our focus is on CNHC. As you know, it’s the biggest hardcore event in China every year, and getting to play that stage is something we truly treasure. We’re locking ourselves in to make sure we bring our absolute best for what’s going to be an unforgettable night.
Cancer Game (Macau): We have officially released our brand new EP Boulders On The Hull Pt.1. Songwriting for this record began late last year. We spent three months just brainstorming ideas and finalising the overall demo framework, and every one of the four tracks has been revised more than ten times.
So far the EP has not gained widespread attention, and its style cannot be easily labelled as modern core, metalcore revival or traditional hardcore. There are no heavy, aggressive breakdowns, nor overly emotional passages. We avoid overly polished modern tones as well as vintage retro sounds, keeping the overall tone mellow and understated. Even so, this EP perfectly represents who we are as a band, and it has helped us further define our musical direction and creative stance.
Overcome (Haerbin): The band is still sticking to our routine with weekly rehearsals and writing new songs, staying on a steady, upward trajectory. Up next, we’ll be gradually recording and producing these new tracks to get ready for a new EP or full-length album.
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Return The Truth (Beijing): We’re currently gearing up for our set at CNHC Fest while writing new songs. We hope to drop a new EP later this year and incorporate some fresh new elements into our sound.
Tell us about your city and the local scene around you. Who is putting on shows, running venues or distros, moving records and doing the work outsiders rarely hear about? Which bands from your area should we know?
May I Be I: I’m based in Tianjin, but there isn’t much of a hardcore scene here right now. There used to be a hardcore band called “Quan Luan”, but they aren’t active anymore. So, Tianjin doesn’t really have any hardcore promoters yet, but we’re planning to organize some DIY shows here ourselves.
AnemoiA & What You Don’t See: We come from different cities, but thanks to how convenient transportation is nowadays, we now collectively call this area the Greater Bay Area—so we’re a GBA band.
The true backbone of the GBA has to be Triple Stone Booking. They’ve injected a level of scene energy that would have been completely unimaginable ten years ago, creating much tighter connections between the Chinese hardcore scene and the outside world. On top of that, local promoters in the GBA like Gaimosh (Guangzhou), Silver Fang (Macau), and GBA Ruction (GBA) have built essential bridges for the local strength within this scene.
Which bands from your area should people be paying attention to right now?
AnemoiA: Please keep an eye out for Macao metalcore heavyweights Cancer Game—they’ve just dropped their brand new EP, Boulders On The Hull Part. I. We truly believe this is one of the absolute finest masterpieces from the Chinese Metalcore Revival, so be sure to check it out and give it a spin!
What You Don’t See: Sullenboy, hailing from the Punk city of Wuhan, is one of our absolute favorite new bands this year. Heavily influenced by Title Fight, their sound carries labels like soft grunge, post-hardcore, and melodic HC, delivered with incredible emotional depth.
Chaos Kills The Pain: Currently, the places we play the most in Beijing are School Bar and SHUT UP BAR—that’s where most of the punks and hardcore kids gather. The promoters organizing hardcore and punk shows in Beijing are all keeping this culture alive with pure heart and passion. Huge respect to promoters like CNHC, PMA Hardcore, Interesting, and Super School Fighter!
Whether it’s livehouses, skateparks, open-air plazas, or any space with potential, we bring our ideas to life through DIY. We make these ideas a reality to help more people discover this music and culture, and it’s been an incredible feeling.
XENO: We are based in Guangzhou. Currently, the main show promoters around here include Triple Stone Booking (TSB), GAIMOSH, and GBA RUCTION, among others. As far as I know, the ones actively promoting vinyl records are Stone from TSB, as well as Teacher Cai, Waku, and Yun Shao from GBA RUCTION.
To us, everyone who regularly buys tickets to come out to our shows is an unsung hero. For example, “Xiao Xin” frequently records mosh tutorials and full-set live videos of bands. “NANO” and “Er Ge” are also always filming live sets. Then there’s “Ma Lou,” who takes care of Guangzhou kids traveling to other cities for shows—driving them home after the set, and even stocking up the trunk with ice-cold drinks to help everyone cool off after a few hot shows.
As for local bands worth keeping an eye on, there’s Madcock (our guitarist’s other band) and Hard2Kill (our drummer’s other band). And of course, other incredible GBA bands like Anemoia, Such Great Heights, Cancer Game, What You Don’t See, Shoot The Gun, and Snails.
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Hard2Kill: Currently, in our city of Guangzhou, hardcore shows are kept on a steady rhythm almost single-handedly by Stone’s Triple Stone Booking, putting on a show roughly every month or two. We also have emerging organizers like GBA RUCTION hosting shows every few months. On top of that, our vocalist runs his own label called GAIMOSH, which hosts an annual show.
Last year, he joined forces with a few brother bands—Madcock, Cancer Game, Anemoia, Such Great Heights, and us, Hard2Kill—to form GAIMOSH RECORDS, mainly to unite and showcase to the outside world that this is what South China hardcore sounds like right now.
As far as I know, Guangzhou doesn’t have a huge number of hardcore bands yet, and the scene is still relatively young. Hardcore kids listening to vinyl aren’t really mainstream here, so people rarely produce or press vinyl records.
When it comes to local bands, we’d first and foremost recommend every band on GAIMOSH RECORDS. Beyond that, check out XENO, our drummer’s hardcore band, as well as Psycho $uicide Post, a new project formed by our guitarist and bassist—they’re one of the very few Skramz/Screamo bands in China! Word is that some of our friends are also prepping new bands, but there isn’t much info yet, so stay tuned with us for that!
To us, almost every hardcore kid who shows up, buys tickets, and picks up merch is an unsung hero of this scene. People like “Xiao Xin” constantly initiate mosh practices and record mosh videos to share. “Cloud” often helps host and handle touring bands from abroad. “NANO” and “Er Ge” help film live sets. “Leo” even set up a “Mosh Injury Fund” to offer financial help for medical bills whenever mosh kids get hurt! Honestly, I feel everyone who plays a part in this scene is a hero, because none of this is about making money.
Snails: In Hong Kong, when it comes to putting on hardcore, indie, punk, and emo shows, a massive shout-out definitely goes to Adrianna from rice.hk and blankslate_hk, and Johnny from Desperate Infant Records.
Adrianna is just the sweetest, most passionate person for these genres. She always has wild ideas and organizes shows in the weirdest, most unimaginable places—and we all absolutely love it! Her shows are always chaotic, brutal, raw, and sketchy in the best way possible. Always looking forward to what she’s cooking up next. Love you, sis! :)
And Johnny is honestly one of the nicest guys on the planet. He’s quiet and gentle, but he runs a real physical record shop selling actual CDs and vinyl. Yes—even in 2026, we still have people passionate enough about music to invest in a brick-and-mortar record store! With Hong Kong’s crazy rent, there’s no way anyone is making a fortune selling physical records when everyone listens digitally. On top of that, he constantly brings in incredible underground bands that major media and mainstream promoters wouldn’t give the time of day. Huge respect to Johnny!
As for mainland China, without a doubt, Leo from Real Deal Records and Stone from Triple Stone Booking.
Leo is the definition of a hardcore lifer. Known him since 2008, and he’s been pouring his blood and sweat into the scene for nearly two decades. Frontman of Unregenerate Blood, boss at Real Deal Records, and the backbone of China Hardcore history—facts are facts: no Leo, no CNHC festival. We only link up once a year, but every single time it’s an absolute blast. If you ever meet the man in person, you better be ready to join the party. Ultimate respect.
Stone, Oh man, I don’t even know where to start with him. I’ve known him for over a decade. Back in the day, he was just a young kid in the pit, throwing kicks and punches as hard as he fucking could, always rocking the best mosh, two-steps, and stage dives. I’m also pretty sure he has one of the largest hardcore vinyl collections in the entire country! Nowadays, he’s the guy bringing countless international hardcore bands to China. What else can you say? Pure, unmatched passion. Maximum respect!
Hardcore bands in Hong Kong these days that should be checked: Tru//me, FightxClub, The Priceless Boat and Snails (that’s my band :))
Cancer Game: We are based in Macau, a compact city with a small population and a fairly laid-back underground music scene. At present, there is only one active hardcore band and one active metalcore band in Macau. There are no dedicated live music venues nor regular professional event promoters here, so we can only organise DIY shows on our own and invite bands we love to share the stage.
Our top local recommendation is Madcock, the only hardcore band currently active in Macau. They play metallic hardcore with all lyrics written in Cantonese, making them a remarkable representative of local Cantonese hardcore.
Overcome: In the Northeast, there’s always been a strong network of tight friends quietly supporting hardcore music. Early landmark shows—starting with Harbin’s “Snow Country Underground,” moving to Changchun Iron Horse Trail’s “Kindred Hearts & Core Minds,” and through Shenyang’s “Stand as One”—formed the backbone that sustained the Northeastern hardcore scene through its early days.
CNHC has consistently given massive support to show promotion and coverage for hardcore bands across the Northeastern provinces and Inner Mongolia. In recent years, hosting numerous CNHC series and punk shows at Changchun’s Goin Live has not only driven the local culture forward, but also reunited bands and kids across the Northeast, introducing a whole new generation to this music.
Return The Truth: Beijing has a rich, long-standing hardcore history in Mainland China. Roughly several years ago, Hotpot Music started inviting overseas hardcore bands to perform in Beijing. Later on, CNHC and Real Deal Records stepped up to put on local hardcore and punk shows, and recently a cool new promoter called PMA emerged on the scene.
In Beijing, our primary venues are School Bar and Shut Up Bar—both have been immensely supportive of our local hardcore bands. Every single attendee who comes out to shows and buys merch is an unsung hero of our local scene. Make sure to check out May I Be I, an incredible Youth Crew band, as well as the newly formed A Bitter Memory, a solid metallic hardcore outfit.
CNHC 2026 moves between metallic hardcore, youth crew and fastcore, with 17 bands from China and the wider Asian region. Who are you most excited to share the stage with, whether they are old friends, bands you have waited years to see or acts you only know from a distance?
May I Be I: I absolutely love the CNHC 2026 lineup! Especially Whispers from Bangkok—they’re super active in the global hardcore scene right now and long-time friends of Chinese hardcore.
Some of their members are also in MonumentX, which is one of my favorite youth crew bands, so I’m super hyped and honored to share the stage with them. But what surprised me even more was Modern Guns. Just hearing their name gets me teary-eyed, haha! I can’t even imagine how emotional I’ll be when I actually see them live. I really love music like this—music that describes real life and personal journeys with pure sincerity. And of course, to all the Chinese hardcore bands—it’s been way too long, and I can’t wait to see everyone there. Catching up with these people is even more important than the show itself; after all, events like this exist to bring us all together.
AnemoiA: There are just too many to choose from, but if I could only pick one, it would definitely be Modern Guns. Modern Guns completely changed how we view self-expression within the hardcore scene. Also, Overcome, coming all the way from Northeast China, will be crossing multiple countries just to make it to Guangzhou—that’s another set I’m insanely excited for!
What You Don’t See: It has to be Modern Guns. The other bands our members play in—like MYSTRIVE and Such Great Heights—both started out playing a similar style. We loved them back in our college days, and our music was heavily influenced by them. Plus, we’ve already shared the stage in Shanghai with May I Be I, a fantastic youth crew band. This time around, I’m definitely going all out and having a blast—they’re hands down one of the most contagious and high-energy bands in Chinese HC right now.
Chaos Kills The Pain: This is hands down our show of the year. We can’t wait for time to fast-forward so we can finally link up with all the bands!
XENO: This lineup is stacked! As one of the role models for us in the melodic hardcore scene, Modern Guns is a band we’ve been listening to for a long time, and we’ve always been dying to see them live. As for our old friends Whispers, it’s been three years since we last shared the stage with them. Even though they’ve played in China multiple times, they manage to bring incredible surprises every single time, so we’re just as hyped for them this round.
On top of that, domestic Youth Crew band May I Be I has incredible mastery over their sound, and we can’t wait to see what brand-new material they bring to the table. For us, sharing the stage with these amazing bands isn’t just exciting—it’s mostly a learning experience, and we’re really looking forward to connecting with everyone!
Hard2Kill: This lineup is insanely exciting! First off, GRIMTOOTH and WRECKONIZE—we were lucky enough to share the stage with them back in April at the famous Concrete Jungle Fest (CJF) in Southeast Asia, and we absolutely loved their sets.
Getting to share the stage with them again right here at our home base in Guangzhou is going to be an absolute blast!
As for WHISPERS, needless to say, they are the pride of Asian hardcore worldwide, and everyone is beyond hyped for them. On top of that, we have Modern Guns—a Southeast Asian melodic hardcore powerhouse we’ve been listening to for a long time—and we can’t wait to feel their energy live!
Snails: Honestly, every single band! If you look back to the 2000s, finding a hardcore band in China was tough—there were maybe fewer than five. But these days, we have so many incredible hardcore bands all over the country. Their vibe, energy, groove, programming, and riffs are on a completely different level compared to 10 years ago. Every band on the CNHC lineup is worth checking out, and I’m always hyped to hang out with them.
As you may know, hardcore is one big family. We all come from different backgrounds, but we speak the same language. It’s not just only about the music; it’s the hook and the overall vibe. That’s why CNHC feels much more like an annual family reunion party than just a regular festival. It’s a special feeling when you see an old homie who used to go off in the pit back in the day now bringing his daughter on stage just to hang out with everyone.
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We’ve known the guys from Return the Truth and Unregenerate Blood for almost two decades. Then you have the younger generations like AnemoiA, Hard to Kill, and Cancer Game—they’re like a bunch of crazy kids and I love them! I’m also really looking forward to meeting everyone else from XENO, Chaos Kills The Pain, Overcome, What You Don’t See, and May I Be I. I can’t wait!
And speaking of bands from across the rest of Asia — Mystique (Singapore), Wreckonize (Singapore), Losing End (Singapore), Modern Guns (Indonesia), Hand (Georgia), and Whisper (Thailand)—you guys better be prepared to embrace our love and passion!
We might not be able to guarantee you five-star hospitality, but we sure as hell guarantee you the craziest crowd and atmosphere :)
Cancer Game: We are especially excited to see Indonesian melodic hardcore band Modern Guns perform at CNHC, whose music we listen to regularly. We are also looking forward to May I Be I playing on the second day of the event. We were deeply impressed by their live set at Shanghai Naohai Music Festival last May. We rarely got into youth crew hardcore before, but their live performance instantly made us fall in love with this style.
Overcome: Every single band on this bill is someone we’re dying to see live. There are old friends we’ve shared the stage with before, as well as bands we’ve listened to online—all of them are amazingly unique and incredible musicians. We honestly can’t wait to get out there and soak in this wonderful weekend!
Return The Truth: We are super excited to see AnemoiA live. Their debut demo was absolutely mind-blowing, but since Guangzhou is so far from Beijing, we’ve never had the chance to catch their set until now. Beyond that, we’re also really looking forward to seeing our good friends May I Be I—Youth Crew is a style very few bands touch in China. As for the international bands on the bill this year, every single one of them is someone we’re dying to see, and we want to give them a massive welcome to CNHC!
What does the scene look like in everyday life where you live? How does it connect with the wider community, what role does hardcore play in your city, and what kind of friction from venues, authorities, landlords or families shapes how you operate?
May I Be I: I’m really happy to answer this question, because this is exactly why I chose hardcore. It changed my mindset and my life; it makes you positive and optimistic. It forces you to acknowledge current struggles, but it doesn’t leave you there—it pushes you to find ways to overcome them. Even if you can’t break the ice right away, it helps you find a balance to coexist with the pain, and then forces you to think about what kind of person you want to be, what you want to do, and what you’re willing to sacrifice for those choices. Hardcore was never meant to be music for an elite few. It gives people strength without needing to sound ridiculously aggressive, and that’s precisely why I chose it. The way it explains and channels power isn’t by telling me I have to tear something down or defeat an enemy, but rather by teaching me to be a gentle person, to throw away prejudice, and to pass on kindness. Once my family came to understand this music, they naturally had no reason to stand in my way, haha. It was the right choice.
AnemoiA & What You Don’t See: Unlike many places overseas, even though the hardcore scene in Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area is already quite representative within China, it remains very show-centric. It’s still far from becoming a fully integrated lifestyle—things like hardcore-focused record stores or businesses run by HC kids aren’t really a thing yet, though I’m really looking forward to seeing that happen!
As it stands, the daily routine of this scene is fairly straightforward: promoters announce shows, and people discuss music and share info about the subculture online. It’s super pure in that sense. From my perspective, the biggest hurdle right now in Guangzhou is the sheer financial cost of putting on a show. Cultural censorship isn’t overly strict, so the main friction actually comes down to the economic side of things.
Chaos Kills The Pain: Honestly, we haven’t really run into much friction or resistance; if anything, we’ve gotten a lot of support and understanding. Even though not many people in our respective neighborhoods know what hardcore is, they’ve all been pretty tolerant. At the very least, when we record or practice vocals at home, no neighbors have come knocking to complain! Some have even asked, “What style of music is that? It takes a lot of technique, right?”
XENO: For us, hardcore is more than just a long-time passion—it’s been our sanctuary and the ultimate antidote to the daily grind, whether through college years or the hustle of working life. We’re all busy during the week, but the moment we jam together in a crowded rehearsal room or step onto the stage as brothers, all that built-up stress and raw emotion just shatter along with the heavy sound.
The raw, direct expression of hardcore, combined with the release of headbanging and mosh pits, gives us the purest positive feedback. Its values and perspective constantly feed back into our everyday lives, pushing us to self-reflect and grow stronger. Outsiders or family might not always get what we do, but we don’t fucking care—as long as we prove through our actions that this is right for us and brings us positive strength. We’re deeply grateful for the warmth and inclusivity of this scene. No matter what challenges life throws our way next, we just hope to always hold onto this time and keep playing in this band together.
Hard2Kill: In China, we don’t really have the concept of a “neighborhood culture”—at least not in Guangzhou. Right now, my family doesn’t have any issue with me playing in a band, mostly because they see it as my personal hobby. Their mindset is pretty simple: as long as it doesn’t mess with my day job, it’s fine.
As for how Hard2Kill operates, it’s fairly straightforward. I’m mainly responsible for the creative direction and overseeing the overall output. On the songwriting side, our guitarist Ken and I usually build out the basic structure of a song first, and then the other members flesh out their own parts around that.
Snails: In Hong Kong, the scene is a constant grind. The authorities don’t give a single fuck about supporting hardcore, and honestly, there’s no real “live house” industry to speak of here. A lot of people have tried to build it over the years, but they just couldn’t survive. Venue operators are constantly caught in a nightmare of strict regulations and red tape. Hong Kong is brutally crowded, and when you pack so many different people from every walk of life into tight communities, friction is inevitable. But somehow, against all odds, we still have a few die-hard, passionate venue owners running things on a small scale. It’s tough, but at least we’ve still got a roof over our heads to play under.
On the flip side, looking at mainland China over the last decade, the vibe has gotten way better. Live houses are popping up everywhere, and the authorities are actually letting different art forms breathe. You see art galleries, skate spots, tattoo shops, HxC kids running bars and old industrial spaces getting gutted and rebuilt into sick live venues and festival grounds.
Subcultures like hardcore aren’t just treated like a temporary trend anymore—they’re actually bleeding into and shaping the local culture in a real way.
Cancer Game: As mentioned earlier, niche subcultures have a very small audience in Macau due to its small size. The local music community is extremely tight-knit, with no separate circles for hardcore, metal, emo punk and other genres — all fans belong to one single community.
The biggest struggle here is the lack of new blood, including emerging bands and young audiences. Over 70 percent of attendees at our past shows come from other cities, while most local viewers are fellow musicians or friends and family of the performing bands. Less than twenty local people actually come purely out of love for this style of music.
Besides continuing our songwriting and touring plans, we plan to devote more time to hosting local shows covering hardcore, metal, emo punk and more. We hope to bring in new enthusiasts, whether they are aspiring musicians, photographers, designers or writers who love underground music. Everyone is more than welcome to join us.
Overcome: Hardcore is still pretty niche in our city, but this music has been the thread running through everyone’s youth and lives in the band. That’s really the main reason why our band operates so much like a family.
Return The Truth: Outside of music, we’re just ordinary people living in this city, each with our own day jobs. People might judge us by our outfits or tattoos, assuming we have some alternate identities or that we’re kind of dangerous, haha—but overall, none of that ever really causes any issues. Hardcore is the music and culture we’ve always been passionate about. So after work, getting together with good friends to rehearse, write songs, and share the stage with even more friends—that’s just how we operate, and it’s what keeps us happy.
What do people outside China usually get wrong about Chinese hardcore? The story gets flattened quickly from a distance, so what would you like to correct?
May I Be I:
AnemoiA & What You Don’t See: I haven’t really heard many misconceptions about Chinese hardcore; most of the feedback I’ve encountered from abroad has been overwhelmingly positive. Because the scene here is small, everyone stays super tight-knit.
Amazing bands like Torena and Fuming Mouth from the US—I heard they thoroughly enjoyed their time playing in Guangzhou and called it one of the wilder places they’ve ever played, leaving them feeling completely fulfilled.
Because of how certain foreign media outlets frame things, I think a lot of people don’t have a clear or positive understanding of China. So all we can hope for is that the bands who actually come here and experience the scene firsthand will spread the love they felt back home. I just hope that love keeps growing!
Chaos Kills The Pain: We honestly don’t care. If people insist on misunderstanding us, so be it. Inclusivity, friendliness, and unity are the true essence of Chinese hardcore. We’re just doing our own thing, without hurting anyone or stooping to low, dirty antics. If that still leaves outsiders viewing Chinese hardcore with bias, then to each their own—we can’t force anyone to break free from their own narrow-mindedness.
XENO: The biggest misconception outsiders have about hardcore is mistaking mosh pits and raw show energy for ‘violence, street brawls, or mindless chaos.’ When people around us don’t get it, we don’t necessarily bother over-explaining—persisting in what we love usually earns their respect over time anyway. If anything, we’d rather just drag them to a show so they can experience the energy and the genuine love in the room firsthand.
While the scene in China still has room to grow compared to more established scenes overseas, it’s been blowing up from the Greater Bay Area to the Yangtze River Delta, fueled by dedicated promoters bringing in international heavyweights and kids showing up on the floor. Hardcore isn’t about violence; it’s something deeply meaningful that we pour our hearts into in the cracks of daily life. Through our music and actions, we hope to break down these stereotypes and show the rest of the world—and people outside the scene—the true spirit of Chinese hardcore and the incredible bands coming out of it.
Hard2Kill: I haven’t really encountered too many misconceptions personally, but in my view, hardcore culture was imported from abroad, so we’re still in the learning stage. Naturally, there are shortcomings compared to places with more mature scenes.
Given that our environment and operational realities are completely different from the rest of the world, I acknowledge that certain “hardcore rules” might apply overseas but just don’t fit here. Every country and every region naturally has its own take—a blend of universal fundamentals with local flavor.
That said, I believe most of us fall in love with hardcore because of those shared, core qualities: inclusivity, unity, and independent thinking. That is the universal language of hardcore, and it remains the same no matter where you are.
Snails: Outsiders love to claim that we’re just “poor kids listening to toxic music (in Chinese 害人的音乐）” and that our shows are way too violent. Before I even bother correcting them, I just want to say that our hardcore kids are pretty stoked and proud of it, lol!
The truth is, we come from all walks of life. We have lawyers, politicians, accountants, auditors, bankers, teachers, engineers, CEOs, businessmen, artists, and musicians—you name it. We all play important roles and contribute positively to our society.
So many hardcore kids live by PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), staying drug-free, alcohol-free, and practicing Straight Edge, veganism, animal rights, environmentalism, and a deep dedication to friendship, family, and unity. At the end of the day, all we want to do is enjoy hardcore music and the lifestyle that comes with it.
Everyone goes through ups and downs, and hardcore music and live shows provide a healthy outlet to release anger, anxiety, and struggles while helping people find their identity. You might see kids get knocked around in the pit, but they always walk out smiling and satisfied. It gives them a release so they can wake up the next day, go to work, and be better people.
Here in China, we’re lucky to have an incredibly united scene that looks out for one another—we have zero tolerance for crowd killing. As a father myself, I ask: why not let more people know what hardcore music is really all about?
Cancer Game: In our opinion, it is not that outsiders hold misunderstandings about Chinese hardcore, but that outstanding domestic hardcore works rarely get exposure overseas. Coupled with the differences in mainstream social media platforms between regions, overseas fans have very limited access to our local scene and bands. Nevertheless, we believe things are gradually improving, and the whole Chinese underground hardcore scene is developing in a positive direction.
Overcome:
Return The Truth: In our Beijing scene, we have a lot of friends from overseas. Our previous drummer was actually from Canada, and we met him at a First Blood show in Beijing. So from our perspective, there isn’t really any misconception about Chinese hardcore. When people first find out that we have a scene here, they’re usually just surprised, and then they immediately dive in to learn more and join us.
Even though we come from different countries and speak different languages, hardcore is our universal language in this scene. The history of Chinese hardcore isn’t all that long, but our understanding and love for this music and culture is no different from friends anywhere else in the world. One big happy family!
What records or bands, from China or elsewhere, have really stayed with you over the last year or two? What do you keep returning to?
May I Be I: My absolute favorite band and album has to be The Things We Carry by Have Heart. The message and the strength it delivers helped me get through so many difficult times. I’m sure it’s a personal favorite for countless others too, but to me, it means the world. Another defining one for me is the song The Bold and the Beautiful by Bane. It’s basically the soundtrack to my life. Whenever I’m feeling down, I think of those lyrics: “There’s a lion in your gut, you’ve got to listen. Lying still in you for so long, you’ve got to listen.” It reminds me that there’s actually a powerful strength inside me that I hadn’t even realized. It helped me break through the dark times, and that’s why I love this music so much.
AnemoiA: Once again, highly recommending Boulders On The Hull Part. I by Macao’s very own Cancer Game—do not sleep on this one!
What You Don’t See: I Want to Disappear by The Story So Far is a record that sounds upbeat on the surface, yet is deeply drenched in sorrow. They used this unique form to document life, honoring the loved ones who have passed and capturing the irreplaceable moments of a life we can never get back. Seeing them do that truly inspires us to create music in that very same way.
Chaos Kills The Pain: DON’T TRY、DOGBITE
XENO: SUNAMI, Sanction, Speed, Counterparts, View From The Soyuz, Foreign Hands, Whispers, Despize, Knocked Loose, False Reality, Bloom, Phantom Heartache, Being As An Ocean, Texas In July, Hatebreed, LIMBS, Clayton King, Imminence, Bleach, Mutation, Cancer Game, Madcock. All of these bands give us endless inspiration through their sound, live energy, and songwriting.
Hard2Kill: Terror StillSuffer; PeelingFlesh PF Radio2, The G Code; Despize Scotland’s Hardcore, Hold My Own Pay No Mind, Bayway The Recipe, Vol.1, End it Wrong Side of Heaven
Snails: Ohh, definitely has to check them out! No More Harm (Shanghai), Shoot the Gun (Shenzhen), Loudspeaker (Shanghai), Rust Sucker(Beijing), Sxxking Ball (Cangzhou).
Cancer Game: Our music has long been heavily influenced by bands such as Crystal Lake, Counterparts and The Ghost Inside. In the past two years, our taste has become more diverse. We listen widely to modern metalcore and deathcore revival works, as well as classic melodic hardcore from the 2000s to the 2010s.
If we had to pick an album and an EP that have left the deepest impression on us, even though neither was released this year, we would choose the album Carry Us Until There Is Nothing Left by Taken, and the EP Condemned by Faith by Ezalor.
Overcome: I’ve been playing Madball’s new songs and Terror’s new album on repeat. They’re still top-tier quality while keeping their signature style and carrying on that classic sound. It honestly makes us old-school headz so stoked!
Return The Truth: Risk It! Mercy Of None, Turnpike Straight to the Domes of Your Heads, DC AKBSIGILS
